Miller Engineering sign hook up

Brent, while not familiar with the AC/DC converter you mention, here is how I hooked up my Miller signs.

Using a MTH 50-1014 ACCESSORY TERMINAL HOOK UP CIRCUIT BOARD (powered by accessory side of a Lionel 1033), I cut the battery pack and ran the red wire to the + and the black wire to the -. 

Hope this helps. 

I would imagine that the AC/DC converter you mention is a rectifier. You would have to be careful of the AC input. A standard bridge full wave rectifier will usually yield 90% of the input voltage. For instance, 10VAC input through a bridge rectifier will yield 9VDC output. The Miller Engineering signs run on 4.5VDC. A 5VAC input from the transformer should work just fine.

BReece... go to any electronic store and get a 4.5volt AC/DC converter and hookup one wire to each wire going to the sign.

if you want control insert a toggle switch to control power to sign. I have done this since the first sign I purchased from miller signs oh so long ago.

you also can order a power converter from miller engineering and run up to 6 signs off of it using either ac/dc power even off of track power if you so desire.

hope this helps you. also go to Miller Engineering website they do advertise here as well.

soo

Hey BReece..........if this wasn't mentioned already, look at the Miller Engineering Website, or advertisements.  They offer a "gizmo" that you can use to power individual signs or multiple signs off A/C current.  I don't know the cost.

There has been some discussion on this topic listing some available ac to dc power supplies...some from China that you can apply your Lionel or whatever transformer output to (it's ac input) and adjust it's dc output to 4.5 volts.

I think the ones I bought were capable of around 2 amps.

https://ogrforum.com/t...24#20576748496537024

The posts here are a little confusing. What exactly is this "dc/ac" device that you have?

A bridge rectifier doesn't reduce the voltage by a percentage, but reduces the voltage by two diode drops...what ever the diodes are in the bridge. So for high voltages, the loss is less percentage wise than when rectifying low ac voltages. The two diode drops are usually about 1.2 volts total...roughly, and depends also on the current drawn as well.

It depends on the rectifier Jack. My company sells a bridge rectifier that reduces the input voltage to 90% and a half wave rectifier that reduces the voltage to 45%.

Since you have a DC source (your AC/DC adapter), you need a regulator to set the voltage applied to your signs to 4.5V DC.  As mentioned there have been many threads (with photos) discussing low-cost regulator modules available from Asia - usually via eBay - for less than $2 shipped!  Search "LM2596 regulator" on eBay.  These are adjustable output so you need a voltmeter to set them to 4.5V.

In the last year or so, for a few dollars more these module can include an on-board digital voltmeter!  I got one off eBay for less than $5 shipped in 10 days. Here's a photo of it set to 4.5V DC.  2 wires in from adapter, 2 wires out to signs.

Any of these LM2596 modules will have the ability to drive your 3 signs...but your AC/DC adapter must also have enough capacity to do so.  Adapters usually have a label or embossed lettering with a voltage and current rating...such as 12VDC 500mA, or 9VDC 300mA, etc.  If you report what you have, someone familiar with Miller signs should be able to confirm its suitability.

http://www.hogtrainz.com/MILLERENGINEERING.htm

Put em on a switch !!!

Sorry for the late responce to your questions.  This the type of converter (AC/DC) I have:

"LM317 converter" .

I have a Miller  Engineering , Power Distribution Board # 4805. I think i will cut the battery pack off ond use the board to connect the signs and then connect the board direct to the transformer,   

Will this work??

Brent

Yes.  You'll need, say, 6V or more of transformer AC voltage going into your LM317 regulator module.  Set the "DC Out" to 4.5V DC with a voltmeter and you're good to go.